Dan Markus' Wax Museum

Rocker Tommy James and comedian Pat Paulsen both had roles in the 1968 Presidential Election.  Richard Nixon won the election over Hubert Humphrey and George Wallace.  But here are two stories you may not have heard before, one from Tommy James, the other from Pat Paulsen.  More at  https://www.danmarkuswaxmuseum.com/ #TommyJamesandTheShondells #PatPaulsen #DanMarkusWaxMuseum #History #1968

Spanky and Our Gang's hits included "Sunday Will Never Be The Same, Lazy Day," and "Like To Get To Know You."  They were known for great harmonies and a quirky look.  Here, Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane recalls the band's formation-to-first-gig-in-4-days origin, and the name.

  Danny Hutton knows why Three Dog Night songs were so popular, and discloses a really stupid reason why one critic chose to pan the band that had 18  consecutive Top 20 hits.  #threedognight #dannyhutton #musichistory

The Cowsills have a new 3-song Christmas EP out, and it's a gem!  Here, Bob Cowsill chats with Dan Markus about the new EP, and shares a few other interesting Cowsills stories.  More on The Cowsills and many other artists from Rock and Roll's formative years at https://www.danmarkuswaxmuseum.com

Susan Cowsill has been a rock star since her pre-teen years, and here she talks with Dan Markus about being in The Cowsills with her mother and brothers, and being a part of the 2023 Happy Together Tour.

What iconic Rock Star escaped a Russian Invasion as a baby when his mother snuck him across a border in the middle of the night?  Hear the story from the man it happened to. 

Chad and Jeremy, in the first year of The British Invasion, made a very memorable appearance on the Dick Van Dyke Show, playing British musicians plagued by hoards of screaming teenage girls intent on meeting them.  The episode (called The Redcoats are Coming ) first aired February 10, 1965.  Here, Chad and Jeremy talk with Dan Markus about their cherished experience on that show. #chadandjeremy,...

When Chicago first debuted (is that redundant?), some rock purists were hesitant to call it a "rock band" because it had a built-in horn section (Jimmy Pankow on trombone, Lee Loughnane on trumpet, and Walter Parazaider on saxophone and flute).  Here, Dan Markus (a trombonist himself-back in the day) brings the subject up with Chicago founding member Jimmy Pankow.  

The Grass Roots' Rob Grill revealed to Dan Markus how he had a close call with death, but switched planes at the last minute.  The tragic 1979 plane crash took the lives of everyone on board.  #historicalpodcasts #oldies #danmarkuswaxmuseum

Dan Markus talks with one of Rock's greatest guitarists (so-anointed by Rolling Stone Magazine) whose career goes back even before the British Invasion years when he was guitarist in the house band for the TV show "Shindig."  He's in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for being a member of the legendary band, Booker T. and The MGs.  Perhaps he's most remembered for playing behind Dan Aykroyd and John...

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Lodge talks about "The Sun Will Shine," John's new solo song released May of 2021.  Hear the song by visiting the Dan Markus' Wax Museum website, https://danmarkuswaxmuseum.com .

With the sad passing of Mary Wilson, founding member of the landmark Motown group The Supremes, I went back into my interview vault and selected three brief clips from my 1987 interview with the legendary singer.  We discussed how The Supremes crossed-over to a larger audience, and the tour that made the trio Superstars.  #marywilson, #thesupremes, #danmarkuswaxmuseum

Carl Giammarese of Chicago's Buckinghams chats with Dan Markus about how the band got a record deal by winning a TV contest.  And how Kind of a Drag leapt to Number One in America, yet the band didn't have a record deal.  And the times (plural) that The Buckinghams played at Presidential Inauguration Balls in Washington, DC.  Plus much more.  #thebuckinghams, #carlgiammarese, #danmarkuswaxmuseum

On the anniversary of John Lennon's death, here's a brief part of my conversation with Pete Best, The Beatles first regular drummer.  I asked him a question, and you can hear his affection for John Lennon as he talks about his bandmate.  

How Johnny Rivers got his stage name, and by what famous (In-The-Rock-And-Roll-Hall-Of-Fame-Famous) Disc Jockey.  Plus how he found one of his most iconic songs while touring Great Britain.

Shirley Alston Reeves, lead singer of The Shirelles, didn't think Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow would be a hit.  Ultimately it spent two weeks at Number One in early 1961.  In this clip, Shirley spoke with me by phone about why she really really didn't want to record this composition by a then relatively-unknown Carole King, with a behind-the-scenes look at in-studio discussions about it.

The lead singer of Herman's Hermits (Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter, I'm Henry VIII, I Am, There's A Kind of Hush) talks with Dan Markus about touring with The Who (and Keith Moon's birthday, um, celebration ... you can imagine ... ), some of the famous studio musicians heard on some of their records, his Sirus XM show Something Good , and much more.

Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean talks about * Recording Surf City, * The very bizarre story that resulted in the duo being barred from the movie set of a film they had recorded the hit title track for, * Jan Berry's horrendous car accident (and how he, Dean, found out about it), and * The arrival of The Beatles on the music scene (which instantly halted the careers of most American musicians).  Visi...

Dean Torrence talks about ... how he came to sing lead on a big Beach Boys hit AND about the time Jan and Dean showed up for a concert and there were no cars in the venue's parking lot AND why they were banned from the movie set of "Ride the Wild Surf" even though they sang the movie's title track AND what major historical international event had its origins in a Jan and Dean tour (according to US...

Founding members of The Mamas and Papas, Denny Doherty and John Phillips, explain how their rather unusual group name originated. Find more interviews at http://danmarkuswaxmuseum.com , and like our Facebook page.

Dan Markus talks with Jim Peterik of Ides of March, formerly of Survivor and of .38 Special fame.

Country Superstar Kenny Rogers relates how "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town" steered his band, The First Edition, away from Psychedelic Rock and more towards Country.  And what 60s Rock Band did The First Edition want to emulate?  R.I.P. Kenny Rogers.

On the 8th anniversary of his sudden passing (February 29, 2012), here's one of my favorite stories about being with Davy, and a clip from our first meeting and interview where he talks about success.

Dean Torrence of Jan Dean ("Surf City," "Deadman's Curve" et al ) is a great storyteller with great stories to tell.  Hear about the duo's early days (and whose used recording equipment they used in Jan's garage for their first hits).  Hear about when he came face-to-face for the first time with the famous woman he once sang about, and her Superstar husband.  Hear a detailed account of the destruc...

Tommy Roe had a hit in early 1970 called "Jam Up and Jelly Tight."  It was an infectious little song that we all sang along to.  But just what were we singing, anyway?!  Tommy explains in this exclusive interview with Dan Markus.  And for more interviews, visit https://danmarkuswaxmuseum.com.